Elemental Health

My path

I see massage therapy not as a job to grind away at daily,
but as an extension of my spiritual practice. Every client interaction presents a unique opportunity to cultivate compassion, to hold sacred space for amazing transformation to unfold, to see awareness open new horizons. As my clients expand consciousness, my work expands to meet them and support through the next level of transformation.

There is no push, no shove, just a meeting on equal ground with the intention to allow the body to open to its true nature, at its own pace.

On my path to peronal healing I have encountered many obstacles and reworked the webs of patterning that helped to keep my discomfort firmly in place. There is still plenty of work to be done- a work in progress with no end in sight.

I look forward to meeting you on the bittersweet path to health and healing that lies ahead.

The following is a brief excerpt of my journey so far.....

Originally from Upstate New York, I have been priveledged to have wandered through and lived in many parts of the country. I arrived in Philadelphia in my early 20's to settle back into college for the second time. The mission was to aquire a degree in Art History and Cultural Anthropolgy.

A series of car accidents and life traumas in childhood had taken their toll on my young body. I had received regular chiropractic care as a child to help with whiplash and scoliosis. The typical response to my
statement of discomfort was " kids bounce, you'll be fine in no time"
Discomfort and pain had been long been friends of mine. By the time I was 24, I was really struggling to function. The muscles in my back regularly spasmed and stiffened while I slept, making getting out of bed impossible without assistance.

A friend of mine had studied massage in Europe and offered to help.
the thought of being touched did not sit well with me but her mantra of "you will feel better" won me over. Her hands expertly worked across my back and all my muscles responded by jumping, twitching and fighting to get away. An hour later I began to relax and I really did feel better. Unfortunately regular massage was a "luxury" I could not afford.

One month later, I found a flier for a weekend class in self massage. A year later, I had completed three levels of training at the International School of Shiatsu in Doylestown, PA. Soon I found myself immersed in a private practice offering Shiatsu and Reiki, allowing intention to do all the work. Massage was no longer a luxury item but a necessary component to living a full vibrant and healthy life.

September 2001, I left Philadelphia for the San Francisco Bay Area. I opted to volunteer my services in Shiatsu and Reiki at two amazing centers; Quan Yin in SF and the Center for HIV in Berkeley. Both centers focus on alternative healthcare and support for economically disadvantaged/ sometimes homeless clients, who suffer from H.I.V, A.I.D.S and a variety of other healthcare concerns. Through these centers I was able to offer my skills to people often abandoned by our healthcare system, ignored by society, and shunned by family and friends.

In 2003 I began the Holistic Health Practitioners program at the
Heartwood Institute in Northern California. Through the immersion style process of learning at Heartwood I was able to expand my knowledge, grow spiritually and strenthgen my commitment to the quality of intention behind my work.
My studies included exercise therapy, hyrotherapy, yoga, tai chi, energetic healing, nutrition and nutritonal education. I increased my skills and perception in Shiatsu, Thai Masage, Swedish, Hot Stone, Prenatal Massage, Polarity Therapy, Myofascial Release, and Somatic Clearing Practices.

I offered my advanced skills and experience to students as a teaching assistant for Shiatsu, Human Sciences and Business classes. I completed my internship and student clinic hours under the supervision of Dr Peter Stern Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Naturopatic MD.

Since aquiring my Holistic Health Certification from Heartwood I have become A Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of North Carolina. In 2004 I taught Shiatsu at the Center for Massage and Natural Healing in Asheville, NC.

I have been schooled in "the ritual of spa" at major resort and day spas in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. I see the modern rituals of spa as an attempt to return to the long held healing traditions of indigenous peoples and their Shamans.

Most recently I have begun to lay the foundation for my business Elemental Health. It is my sincerest hope that Elemental Health will grow into a diverse cooperative of Healing Professionals dedicated to bringing the very best that Eastern and Western Medicine has to offer to the public. Strengthening health, building community, and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for our neighborhood is what Elemental Health is all about.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I look forward to hearing yours soon.

Jennifer Harrison


index Mission My path Policies Services and Pricing Contact Services

Elemental Health

	My path I see massage therapy not as a job to grind away at daily, but as an extension of my spiritual practice. Every client interaction presents a unique opportunity to cultivate compassion, to hold sacred space for amazing transformation to unfold, to see awareness open new horizons. As my clients expand consciousness, my work expands to meet them and support through the next level of transformation. There is no push, no shove, just a meeting on equal ground with the intention to allow the body to open to its true nature, at its own pace. On my path to peronal healing I have encountered many obstacles and reworked the webs of patterning that helped to keep my discomfort firmly in place. There is still plenty of work to be done- a work in progress with no end in sight. I look forward to meeting you on the bittersweet path to health and healing that lies ahead. The following is a brief excerpt of my journey so far..... Originally from Upstate New York, I have been priveledged to have wandered through and lived in many parts of the country. I arrived in Philadelphia in my early 20's to settle back into college for the second time. The mission was to aquire a degree in Art History and Cultural Anthropolgy. A series of car accidents and life traumas in childhood had taken their toll on my young body. I had received regular chiropractic care as a child to help with whiplash and scoliosis. The typical response to my statement of discomfort was " kids bounce, you'll be fine in no time" Discomfort and pain had been long been friends of mine. By the time I was 24, I was really struggling to function. The muscles in my back regularly spasmed and stiffened while I slept, making getting out of bed impossible without assistance. A friend of mine had studied massage in Europe and offered to help. the thought of being touched did not sit well with me but her mantra of "you will feel better" won me over. Her hands expertly worked across my back and all my muscles responded by jumping, twitching and fighting to get away. An hour later I began to relax and I really did feel better. Unfortunately regular massage was a "luxury" I could not afford. One month later, I found a flier for a weekend class in self massage. A year later, I had completed three levels of training at the International School of Shiatsu in Doylestown, PA. Soon I found myself immersed in a private practice offering Shiatsu and Reiki, allowing intention to do all the work. Massage was no longer a luxury item but a necessary component to living a full vibrant and healthy life. September 2001, I left Philadelphia for the San Francisco Bay Area. I opted to volunteer my services in Shiatsu and Reiki at two amazing centers; Quan Yin in SF and the Center for HIV in Berkeley. Both centers focus on alternative healthcare and support for economically disadvantaged/ sometimes homeless clients, who suffer from H.I.V, A.I.D.S and a variety of other healthcare concerns. Through these centers I was able to offer my skills to people often abandoned by our healthcare system, ignored by society, and shunned by family and friends. In 2003 I began the Holistic Health Practitioners program at the Heartwood Institute in Northern California. Through the immersion style process of learning at Heartwood I was able to expand my knowledge, grow spiritually and strenthgen my commitment to the quality of intention behind my work. My studies included exercise therapy, hyrotherapy, yoga, tai chi, energetic healing, nutrition and nutritonal education. I increased my skills and perception in Shiatsu, Thai Masage, Swedish, Hot Stone, Prenatal Massage, Polarity Therapy, Myofascial Release, and Somatic Clearing Practices. I offered my advanced skills and experience to students as a teaching assistant for Shiatsu, Human Sciences and Business classes. I completed my internship and student clinic hours under the supervision of Dr Peter Stern Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Naturopatic MD. Since aquiring my Holistic Health Certification from Heartwood I have become A Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of North Carolina. In 2004 I taught Shiatsu at the Center for Massage and Natural Healing in Asheville, NC. I have been schooled in "the ritual of spa" at major resort and day spas in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. I see the modern rituals of spa as an attempt to return to the long held healing traditions of indigenous peoples and their Shamans. Most recently I have begun to lay the foundation for my business Elemental Health. It is my sincerest hope that Elemental Health will grow into a diverse cooperative of Healing Professionals dedicated to bringing the very best that Eastern and Western Medicine has to offer to the public. Strengthening health, building community, and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for our neighborhood is what Elemental Health is all about. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I look forward to hearing yours soon. Jennifer Harrison

Copyright © Elemental Health Member ABMP